Blue KC, in partnership with the Kansas City Royals, proudly announced that Shut Out the Stigma – a program that promotes Behavioral Health as a part of overall health and well-being and focuses on removing the stigma around mental health – raised more than $30,000 in 2022 to support six community organizations.
Throughout the entire Royals 2022 season, Blue KC, the “Official Health Insurance Provider of the Kansas City Royals,” donated $30 each time a Royals pitcher recorded a shutout inning. Based on the total number of shutout innings by Royals pitchers each month, Blue KC made a donation to a different Kansas City area behavioral health organization that promotes mental health through participation in sports, including: KVC Health Systems, First Call, ReDiscover, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Mattie Rhodes Center, and ShareWaves.
Shut Out the Stigma, now in its second year, launched this past April with a new Public Service Announcement featuring Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre. The program drives awareness of behavioral health by sharing real-life stories from Kansas City Royals players and leaders in the community while demonstrating to parents how their interactions with their children can have long lasting impacts.
As Shut Out the Stigma moves forward in 2023, the Royals and Blue KC will continue to shine a light on specific mental health concerns, continue to normalize the conversation, and provide resources for those seeking help with their behavioral health. These issues can affect anyone, so we want to raise awareness that there are resources available to help those in our communities who need them.
Learn more about Shut Out the Stigma, and access resources, articles and videos on our website at https://shutoutthestigma.com/